Surrounded by a table full of white-hot telephones, his diary full to bursting and faced with inflating Shielfield Park's pitchside balloon, Jamie Curle took a moment to gather his thoughts ahead of the biggest Scottish Cup tie in Berwick Rangers' history.

"This is something that money can't buy and whatever the cost we have to do everything in our power to promote the club, the town and the people this weekend," admitted the man charged with organising the biggest matchday operation the Scottish Second Division side has ever known.

"It's testimony to the efforts of the board, the staff, the volunteers and Paul Smith's squad that we are in a position to stage this game and if we can thaw the pitch out then it will be all systems go on Saturday."

Berwick always feared the big freeze would spoil their big day - hence the decision to hire the pitchside balloon and heaters at a cost of more than #9,000. With Sky Sports screening the game live across Britain, there has never been a better chance to thrust the football club at the heart of a small borders town into the national and international spotlight.

"If we are out of the cup on Saturday night I'll be absolutely delighted," quipped Curle, much to the horror of the die-hard Berwick supporters working alongside him at Shielfield Park's vibrant administrative epicentre. "It means the pitch has been declared playable and the tie has gone ahead as planned. After all the time and money we've put in during the last few weeks that's all we are asking for."

When Berwick pulled mighty Glasgow Rangers out of the hat last month, Curle had little time to reflect on the fact that his club had been given the opportunity to replay one of cup football's most famous ties.

Thanks to the Borderers' 1-0 triumph over the Ibrox club in 1967 this fixture has always been steeped in nostalgia - hence the incredible interest.

For Curle, however, reality, rather than sentimentality, has been the driving force during a hectic holiday period.

"There has been four years' work undertaken in four weeks at Shielfield Park but we see this tie as the catalyst for future success and stability," added the man behind Berwick's most recent successes.

"We've already spent our share of this weekend's gate receipts bringing the ground up to standard for a fixture of this magnitude and, contrary to popular opinion, we won't be making any money out of the game.

"However, this is about more than money and we are in a position to show the outside world what we are all about. By bringing Shielfield Park into the 21st century, we are prepared for the promotion which we narrowly missed last season.

"This is a one-off cup tie but it can do a lot for the long-term ambition of the club. Our manager Paul Smith has done a brilliant job on the pitch and we are trying to do our best behind the scenes to support him.

"In the final analysis some of the money we have spent to stage this game will be wasted and we will end up spending around #50,000.

"But the eyes of the world are focused on Berwick this weekend and we don't want to let ourselves, the town or the people down."

On that note another brace of ring tones sounded and the call for inflation came. Curle will have earned a lie-in come Sunday morning.

Berwick Rangers v Glasgow Rangers - the facts

Berwick are using a protective pitch balloon and pitchside heaters at a cost of #9,000 in a bid to ensure the game goes ahead.

A total of 40 seats in the main stand have been booked for local, national and international media.

The game will go out live on Sky Sports and BBC Radio Scotland.

The tie was sold out a week ago.

Extra floodlighting has been erected and, for the first time in 20 years, there are no broken lightbulbs in the existing floodlights.

The Northumbria Police bill for covering the fixture is expected to be in excess of #10,000.

Scaffolders have erected an on-site television studio for Sky Sports presenter Jim White and his team.

Scaffolding has been erected to accommodate 12 different camera points.

Main stand and terracing lighting has been checked and repaired as required.

Existing turnstiles have been upgraded and four new turnstiles constructed.

Every broken seat has been repaired or replaced.

Stone chippings have been spread across the car park to prevent the Outside Broadcast Scanners from sinking into the mud.